Employing the STEM education model in grade 4 science to develop students’ application competency

Developing students' competence to apply acquired knowledge and skills in practice is one of the key objectives of the 2018 General Education Curriculum. In primary education, STEM education has been recognized as an instructional approach that integrates science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through practical problem-solving activities. This study presents the design and implementation of STEM lessons for the topic “Matter” in Grade 4 Science with the aim of developing students' competence in applying acquired knowledge and skills. The research employed theoretical analysis, questionnaire survey, pedagogical experiment, and statistical methods. Based on the characteristics of the topic “Matter”, three STEM lessons were designed and implemented following the engineering design process. The analysis of data from a sample of 71 Grade 4 students (including 36 students in the experimental group and 35 in the control group) showed that STEM-based instruction was associated with improvements in students’ ability to connect scientific knowledge with real-world contexts and in their competence in applying acquired knowledge and skills. The findings provide practical references for primary school teachers in organizing STEM education.